Mark Jolly, Cranfield University’s director of manufacturing (pictured), has welcomed the introduction of new legislation due to become effective in the summer, dubbed the ‘right to repair’ law, as an important step in creating a ‘circular and more sustainable economy’.

The Government is keeping a promise to implement European rules aimed at cutting energy and bills – and reducing the need for new materials. Pointing to Cranfield research, Professor Jolly highlights the effectiveness of remanufactured laptops in comparison to new ones, as an example of how repaired goods can be as effective as new ones.

He said: “Far too many products, particularly electrical ones, are simply discarded at what is assumed to be the end of their useful life. Our own research into remanufactured laptops shows just how effective repairs can be, with remanufactured models retaining around 95% of their original processing power.

If businesses and consumers embraced a switch from new to remanufactured computers that would make a huge difference to the amount of electrical waste generated and also reduce the need for the mining of metals. The average PC is a lavish piece of work with copper from Chile, gold from Mali, iron ore from Brazil, nickel from the Congo, and bauxite from Peru.

Moreover, many components depend on rare earth or platinum group metals highlighted as under threat in the EU’s Critical Raw Materials listing.

“While the announcement of the ‘right to repair’ law is welcome we also need to see greater education of both the public and businesses that repaired and remanufactured doesn’t always mean a drop in quality or performance.”